National methane targets threaten food production & climate neutrality goals by 2050.
The article explores how different countries can reduce their methane emissions to meet global climate goals while still producing enough food. By analyzing four methods to set national methane targets, researchers found that the choice of method greatly affects how much each country needs to cut emissions. Livestock production would need to decrease in most countries to meet these targets, except for India. Afforestation on land freed from livestock farming is crucial for achieving climate neutrality. Brazil and Ireland could still export milk and beef while meeting climate goals, but India may struggle to produce enough food if it reduces livestock farming. Balancing food security and carbon offsetting will be key in setting fair and effective national methane targets.